diff --git a/src/wp-includes/comment-template.php b/src/wp-includes/comment-template.php
index bcca00bc23a0d..e384ecc719368 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/comment-template.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/comment-template.php
@@ -2657,7 +2657,7 @@ function comment_form( $args = array(), $post = null ) {
 		'title_reply_to'       => __( 'Leave a Reply to %s' ),
 		'title_reply_before'   => '<h3 id="reply-title" class="comment-reply-title">',
 		'title_reply_after'    => '</h3>',
-		'cancel_reply_before'  => ' <small>',
+		'cancel_reply_before'  => '<small>',
 		'cancel_reply_after'   => '</small>',
 		'cancel_reply_link'    => __( 'Cancel reply' ),
 		'label_submit'         => __( 'Post Comment' ),